Where has Fracking Been Banned?

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Fracking is big business. Proponents say it will solve our energy problems while opponents say it will destroy our water supplies, our land, and our crops. I am an opponent, in case you didn’t already know, as I think it’s a terrible process frought with way too many negatives. Any pluses that could possibly come from fracking are far outweighed by all the dangers, in my opinion. If you’re interested, check out my piece over at the Virgin site What’s all the fuss about fracking? for a little more about it along with some terrifying facts.

While Rome burns, most places around the world are twiddling their thumbs when it comes to banning fracking. Oftentimes it’s because the oil and gas companies throw good great money at them to let them drill as they please; it’s hard to turn down millions in revenue, especially in struggling communities. (Watch the Matt Damon and John Krasinski movie Promised Land if you haven’t yet – you’ll see what I mean) But some places are coming to their senses and realizing that if they don’t put bans and moratoriums in place, their very existence could be threatened by this natural gas boom. Here’s a look at some the places where fracking has been banned or has been stopped under a moratorium put in place by lawmakers.

Marcellus-Shale Gas Drilling Well in Southwestern Pennsylvania

Bans in the U.S.

Mora County, New Mexico Mora was the first county in the U.S. to ban fracking.

Vermont – Signed into law last year by Governor Peter Shumlin, Vermont became the first state in the U.S. to ban fracking. Shumlin said “drinking water will be more valuable than oil or natural gas” and proved himself a hero of the environmental movement.

Maryland – Mountain Lake Park was the first community in Maryland to ban it, and Governor Martin O’Malley has issued an executive order for a three year moratorium.

California – Looks like there will be a statewide ban on the practice as of 2013.

Colorado – Moratoriums and bans have been put in place in Boulder, Fort Collins, and Longmont.

Hemp! Sun, Hydro, Wind, Cold Fusion Energy, Energy from the Quatum Vacum, Nikolai Tesla’s technologies! hello?? A few examples of clean energy sources galore and we all benefit. (not the companies but HUMANITY all accross the globe!!)

so why are we harming ourselves (yes we ARE part of the Earth) with this destructive & Dark practice? Are we “keeping their pockets fat” while we suffer? Humans were not put on this Earth to toil in the mud, oh contrair, we can and will do better. And so it is.